Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down The White House Review

It’s been more than 40 years since the United States was at
the center of one of the greatest political scandals of all time, Watergate. An
informant, known then as “Deep Throat”, brought information to reporter Bob
Woodward from the Washington Post detailing the involvement of President
Richard Nixon’s administration in the Watergate Scandal. This information would
eventually lead to the resignation of Nixon from the office of the Presidency.

In 2005 former Federal Bureau of Investigation Associate
Director Mark Felt came forward as the whistleblower in 1972. While many
people, including President Nixon, suspected Mr. Felt of being the informant
back in the 1970’s, it remained a secret for 30 years until he was motivated by
his family to reveal the secret. Regarded by some as courageous and by others
as a threat, Mr. Felt’s story is captivating, the stuff that Hollywood loves to
produce. It is also a far too pertinent reminder of the current political
landscape in America.

Director and writer Peter Landesman, who began his career as
an investigative journalist and war correspondent for a few National outlets, constructs
the focus of the film strictly on Felt as the workingman trying to navigate
within the system. The viewer witnesses Felt challenged along the investigative
path, we see the secret whispers and meetings in shadowed hallways, there is
also some perspective into the problems happening within the world during the
70’s. While Felt is documented extensively within his role as “Deep Throat”, we
are never given much perspective into the man away from the scandal. Small
pieces of information are offered to hint at a person who is struggling with
numerous aspects of life, for instance within his family structure that details
an alcoholic wife and a daughter that gets caught up in the changing tides of
culture. As the film progresses, it almost feels like we are getting farther
from the emotional perspective that would make his character have more
substance. Without more depth for the character the film instead functions as a
by-the-numbers historical drama, one the struggles to find pacing and rhythm
throughout.

Without Liam Neeson this film would be harder to sit
through. Mr. Neeson, with his gray hair and stoic stance, has a commanding
presence in the film. You can feel the conviction of Felt’s belies on Mr.
Neeson’s face. The rest of the cast is a group of recognizable stars that do
the best they can with what little depth for characters that is displayed here.

“Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down The White House” may
not offer anything new concerning the Watergate scandal. However, it
establishes an intriguing aspect of tension once the film picks up the pace
near the end, making it feel more like the thrilling political drama it was
trying for. The story of Mark Felt has some intriguing character concepts;
unfortunately the execution of the film never taps into the prospect of showing
a how this event came to define the life of one man.